Today's Blog -
(This applies every day, but before Obama's State of the Union Address this date, I'd ask people to keep this in mind.)
Vilifying the Rich?
Before I begin, let me make clear the following ~ I am middle-class, at best. I am not supporting ill-gotten gains in wealth. I am not suggesting the rich be given special consideration in taxation.
I DO believe in some reasonable tax reform, where everyone pays into the system (I like the Fair Tax, but several simplified tax plans could be better than what we have now.). And in no way, should criminal activity, such as fraud, be tolerated.
This wave of blaming the rich is BS, and it's a serious diversion from the real problems in American economics and government.
But, what should we think about the RICH? Many (most?) of those Occupying Wall Street, would say we should arrest them (for what crime?) because they shouldn't have that wealth (really?). Why don't they protest a $32 million a year Alex Rodriguez of the NY Yankees? And have you noticed, many of those people doing the protesting, do so while using their Apple laptops, iPhones, iPads, and such. All those are made by one of the biggest and most successful companies out there, owned by one of the richest men in America (RIP Steve Jobs), at a net worth of around $7 billion (and their products are made in China?)!
The RICH, you know ... the ones Obama encourages many to hate and to blame for all our woes ... employ people, start businesses, and buy stuff. They buy LOTS of stuff. And that STUFF, is made, maintained, and sold by people from all walks of employment. I say, instead of vilifying the RICH, make stuff for them! Sell stuff to them! Maintain stuff for them! Make YOUR money OFF of them. Thousands upon thousands of people and small businesses are doing that right now!
Just for fun, lets make up a RICH family. A RICH family who have earned their own way, by, let's say, designing and selling the best mouse traps the world has ever known.
The RICH family is a family of four. A 46 year old dad; his business partner wife, who is also 46 (high school sweethearts); a 18 year old daughter; a 16 year old son; two pure bred Irish Setters; and an African Grey Parrot. They live on 5 acres, in a gated community, with a pool, a 4 car garage, with a 5 bedroom, 4-1/2 bath, 3800 sq ft home.
Fred RICH, drives a new Cadillac SRT.
Betty RICH drives a new XC-90 Volvo SUV.
Sandy RICH was given a 1992 Nissan Sentra for school (Dad's character builder).
Sean RICH was given ... a ride to school (also Dad's character builder).
Fred loves golf, and belongs to a country club.
Betty loves antiques.
Fred and Betty enjoy weekend day-trips on their new full-dressed Harley-Davidson.
Sandy shows her dogs on a national level.
Sean plays baseball, on the school team and on a summer league.
They all love in-home movies, and enjoy the surround sound, fully equipped home theater system, with a 72" TV, and plush theater seating.
Fred and Sean hold weekend billiard challenges in their game room.
Betty takes in-home cooking lessons, in their large country kitchen, from a professional chef.
Sandy has learned to bake Chicago style pizzas in the brick-oven (yeah, nice kitchen!).
Okay, nice, uh! Yep, the RICH have what many would think of as a well to do life. They earned it, and at a rate of $1,200,000 a year in earnings and investments. And, they have an accountant, to make sure they follow the law, and pay only what the insanely complex tax code requires. They are, by any standard normal people would say, RICH.
So, I ask ....
And how many people were involved in building their house?
What about the sub-contractors for the pool, landscaping, tennis court, gazebo, fence, ect?
How about the suppliers of all the plumbing? The electrical? The appliances? The cabinets?
How many people work in the Cadillac and Volvo factories?
Or work in the sales rooms, finance departments, service shops?
How many people work at the billiard company? Or the factory show rooms? Or the delivery and set-up crews?
How many people make and install the TVs, stereos, all the home theater furnishings?
How much gets spent in travel to all the baseball games (gas, meals, even over-nights)?
How much to maintain the Pure Bred Irish Setters, and travel for the dog shows?
How about the Veterinarians for the dog and parrot?
How many people maintain the country club, and golf greens?
What about the personal tennis instructor and batting coach?
While I don't contribute, HOW much has the RICH family spent at a two-week summer vacation at a south Florida beach condo?
When Fred and Sandy go to work, how many people are employed in the parking garage, or work in building maintenance?
And HOW MANY PEOPLE, do the RICH's employ, pay, provide benefits to?
And how many people, collectively, design, build, supply, sell, and maintain all the RICH stuff?
And how many of those protesting at Wall Street, will be hiring YOU?
Protest REAL fraud and criminal conduct!
Protest bad government! (Try DC, and not Wall Street!)
Protest wasteful government spending!
Protest government elected officials and appointees who abuse their power, and getting life-long benefits, when the rest of us have to follow laws and rules they don't!
Are YOU employed by a broke person? Or has someone with money to invest, provided a means of earning a living to you?
To Protest "the RICH", because they have, and you don't, IS STUPID. Unless - SOCIALISM is your preferred form of government!
